Chris Tremlett has been ruled out of the remainder of the series against Pakistan in the United Arab Emirates with a recurrence of a lower back injury that ruled him out of England's second Test.

Surrey paceman Tremlett, who featured in last week’s opening match in Dubai, will return to the UK immediately for the injury to be assessed before a course of treatment is agreed.

Tremlett's appearance in England's defeat in the first encounter with Pakistan was his first for six months since he suffered a hamstring problem in the Lord's Test against India last July, which led to a more serious back complaint.

There is no word yet on whether the latest problem will require further surgery.

Tremlett took to Twitter this morning to express his disappointment at the news.

“Gutted to be going home early from the tour but hopefully get the back
sorted out quickly. Thanks for all the kind messages,” he wrote.

The ECB have announced that a decision on a replacement for Tremlett is still pending, but media speculation seems to leave Surrey pair of Jade Dernbach and Stuart Meaker as favourites to be called up.

Woodworm's Boyd Rankin, would have been the most obvious like for like replacement, but recently returned home from the Lions squad with a thigh strain.